Newsletter, Term 1, Week 2 10 Feb 2022

And we wish our scholars and our 2021 Year 12 students well in their next adventures. Remember, “My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment” (Oprah Winfrey).

The second key component of the Leaders and Scholars Assembly is to celebrate and officially recognise our Year 12 students as the leaders of our school for 2022. Each Year 12 student received their XII house badges. When thinking about their role as leaders in the school, this quote comes to mind “There is a choice you have to make in everything you do. So, keep in mind that in the end, the choices you make, make you” (John Wooden). For our Year 12 leaders of 2022, we acknowledged, recognised and wished them well in their roles. We look forward to their contributions and their leadership of the school.

If you missed the assembly and would like to view it online it can be accessed via this link.

Tracy Herft, Deputy Principal

School Captain: Jacqueline Evans

Deputy School Captains: Elizabeth O’Sullivan, Chloe Plant

Student Leaders

Debating and Public Speaking: Abbey Cairo 
 
Issues and Action (incorporating the Environment): Emily Harle 

STEM Leader: Maha Thiagarajan 

Information, Media and Literature: Lee Tsourvakas

International Student: Aimee Li

School Sport Leaders: Caitlin Murphy, Annabelle Graham 

Faith: Esther Marsland 

School Art Leaders:  Charlie Eu, Chiara Tolo

School Drama Leaders: Hailey Walker, Hannah Simos-Garner 

School Music Leaders: Lauren Loh, Lili Klapp 

Service Leaders: Ebony Reid, Katie Johnson 

Year 12 House Captains  

Arnold: Amy Gration, Frankie Johnson

Findlay: Grace Jenkin, Lucy Parsons

Gilbert: Chloe Amling, Anna Orelli

Grenfell: Beatrice Kellock, Belle Schenck

For our senior school students, we have had GSV trials, rowing, rhythmic gymnastics, kayaking, swimming and diving all returning across the week. For our junior school students, they braved the heat on Tuesday in their first afternoon back at sport as well. 

GSV fixtures are being finalised with matches due to begin for most sports next week. For all students involved, fixture information will be communicated via Maple across the coming days. 

We are looking forward to getting back into the swing of sport with a big term ahead!

Our coaches Ellie, Bec, Zoe, Catriona and Lauren are excited to meet all our new and returning Rhythmic Gymnastics families. Our gymnastics classes take place on Monday, Tuesday and Friday nights, and during the day on Saturday depending on the level of each student. If there are any students who would still like to enrol please complete the co-curricular EdSmart form indicating your interest and Brihny Unwin, our Rhythmic Gymnastics Coordinator, will get in contact with you with further information.

If you have any questions, please contact her directly: Brihny Unwin, Rhythmic Gymnastics Coordinator - bunwin@strathcona.vic.edu.au

They then moved onto Time Management and creating a weekly study skills timetable.  The students were also given resources discussing ways to manage their phones, the myth of multi-tasking, the Pomodoro Technique, and the Planning Fallacy. Explicitly teaching these skills at Year 10 gives the students a toolkit of strategies that they can use as they develop their capabilities in the final years of school. Topics to be covered in coming weeks include note-taking and academic integrity. 

LLP is a great opportunity for students to dig deeper into their subjects and further develop their skills. Year 11 and 12 students had their first Masterclasses on Friday. Mrs Carolyn Joubran arranged online lectures from ACMI discussing the film texts they are currently studying in English. Year 12 students were able to explore Hitchcock’s artistry in Rear Window and consider a range of interpretive perspectives. Students in Year 11 are studying Gattaca, and their lecture included an examination of issues including individuality and identity, as well as a discussion of film language and narrative techniques. This week Year 11 Students will have a Maths Methods Masterclass, focussing on developing their CAS skills and making the best use of Edrolo, with Ms Toudi Kouris and Mr Charles Coleiro. Year 12 Chemistry students will have a skills recap Masterclass on redox reactions with Mr Kohei Endo. While the Masterclasses are being held, students who do not attend have the chance to study independently or in groups, and to consult their subject teachers. We were impressed at the commitment to use their time productively that was demonstrated by many students. It was a good start to the LLP program for 2022. 

Penny Roberts, Director of Library and Research

Items in the Career News include:

• ANU - Tuckwell Scholarship for 2023
• University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
• New Master of Climate Science from 2022 at The University of Melbourne
• Allied Health Courses at the University of Adelaide
• News from ACU
    o Academy of Global Impact and Leadership through Ethics
    o New Archaeology Major in the Bachelor of Arts
• Bond University Leads in Start-Up Success Stories
• Dental Technology and Oral Health Courses in 2022
• Snapshot of The Australian National University (ANU) in 2022

Also providing Year 9 students with tremendous enjoyment are the Creative subjects which are well underway.  In Art, Drama, Food Tech, Music and Media there is plenty of planning design briefs as students begin to curate their ideas and find ways to present them.  I look forward to sharing with you more about how students will demonstrate their learning in the weeks to come.

Yesterday, I was invited to present at the Australian Council for Entrepreneurship Education Conference 2022. In my presentation to entrepreneurship educators worldwide, I focused specifically on how we explicitly teach several aspects of our Envision program and why entrepreneurship education should be mandated for all young people. In the coming weeks I will expand on these thoughts further and also share more details of our program.

Please keep an eye on emails for our first EdSmart excursion permission, as well as an email from the Duke of Edinburgh if you have not given approval in 2021 for your child to participate in the Award.

I would encourage you also to watch the Year 9 Parent Information video as it contains a wealth of information about our year ahead.

Best wishes,

Karyn Murray, Head of Tay Creggan

View their video here: https://vimeo.com/638516418

Strathcona Family Association Parent Welcome Drinks
Tuesday 15 February – 7pm – 9pm – The Deck, Senior Campus

The Strathcona Family Association (SFA) warmly invites parents to join them for drinks to celebrate the commencement of the new school year. Drinks and nibbles will be served. Please RSVP for catering purposes by clicking here.
Year 7 & 8 parents, please join us following the conclusion of your information session that evening.

Join us for our first Parent Seminar Series Event for the year, ‘Building your child’s capacity to cope and be happy, now and in the future’. Junior School Psychologist Sharon Turner will discuss the beginning of the school year and how it is a time to reflect and put strategies in place that will support the young people in your life to build their capacity to cope and be ready for challenges and changes that the coming year may present. Sharon is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist with over 24 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and parents. Sharon has recently published a children’s picture book ‘Rosie Finds Her Power’ designed to explore how young people can find their inner strength to cope and change with uncertainty. The past two years have been a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences for children, young people, and adults alike, join us for this seminar as it will explore practical ideas and concepts that may assist you to support the development of your child’s capacity to cope and be happy both now and in the future.

This is a free online event. To register click here

Class Reps Welcome & Information Evening
Tuesday 22 February – 7pm – The Deck, Senior Campus

Please consider being a Class Rep in 2022 as it is a great way to meet other parents and feel part of life at Strathcona. Thank you to those parents who have already offered.
The SFA Committee will host an evening for the 2022 Class Reps to welcome them and chat about suggestions for events during the year. Experienced Class Reps will share their knowledge with the group.

If you would like to volunteer, please email Jo Wilson – jwilson@strathcona.vic.edu.au or call me to discuss further on 8779 7503.

Year 7 Family Picnic/Sausage Sizzle – hosted  by the SFA
Friday 25 February from 6.30pm – 8.30pm – The Deck/Oval, Senior Campus

To kick off the year before your daughters go off to camp, the Community Relations Office, in conjunction with the Strathcona Family Association, would like to invite Year 7 families to a casual picnic on the Senior School Oval. This will be a great opportunity to meet other families in your year level and your daughter's House.

BYO picnic basket and all members of your family are welcome. A sausage sizzle will also be available.

For catering purposes, please register your attendance and how many members of your family will be joining you by clicking here.

The SFA is a group of like-minded parents and friends who willingly give their time to actively engage with the School community and provide support for initiatives that benefit all students.

The SFA Committee meets once a month usually on the first Wednesday. We invite you to come along to their meeting on Wednesday 2 March 2022 at 7.00pm on The Deck. You are under no obligation to join the Committee.

Parents’ Night Out – Dancing Under the Stars 2
Saturday 26 March 2022

The Strathcona Family Association are delighted to invite parents to join them for a fun evening at Dancing Under the Stars 2. Last year's event was a huge success with parents enjoying an evening on the Deck socialising and dancing the night away.

Enjoy a complimentary drink on arrival and then drinks can be purchased at the bar. Bountiful finger food and a DJ to entertain you who will be happy to play your requests!

Blow the Covid cobwebs away and have a fabulous evening with other Strathcona parents!

Smart casual attire and only $45per person.

* Please note that parents must be double vaccinated to attend